Youngsters have day to remember as soccer stars visit hospice (From Worcester News)

Youngsters have day to remember as soccer stars visit hospice

7:10am Tuesday 23rd December 2008 in Video By David Paine, @davidpaineWN #worcsnews

CHILDREN at a Worcester hospice received an early Christmas present when a group of famous footballers paid a special visit.

Aston Villa Football Club’s Curtis Davies, James Milner, Steve Sidwell and Stuart Taylor made the trip from Birmingham to the Bath Road hospice yesterday to help raise awareness of the charity and the Acorns at Home campaign.

Acorns Children’s Hospice is the sponsor of Aston Villa after the club agreed a unique deal to help promote it this season.

Central defender Curtis Davies, who posed for pictures, signed cards, and spoke with some of the staff and families at the hospice, said it had been a good experience.

“The suffering the families go through must be tough so we have come down here today to put a smile on a few faces and hopefully raise awareness and some funds as well,” he said.

Acorns urgently needs to finish raising £1 million this Christmas if it is to be able to offer its services to another 300 children, 120 of which live in the Worcester area, in the new year.

Acorns at Home will allow the charity to extend all of its existing hospice services to people at home, giving families even more choice about how the nursing care and specialist support required by them and their families is received.

Debra Dallimore, of St John’s, Worcester, has a 12-year-old daughter, Eden, who suffers from aicardi syndrome meaning she has profound physical and learning disabilities.

Mrs Dallimore, who is also mother to Amber, aged 15, and Harvey, 11, said: “Acorns is absolutely brilliant and the care they give is second to none.

“As far as Eden is concerned this is home from home but it would be really good if the respite provision could be offered at home because it would allow us to do other things like going to the cinema or swimming.”

Keith Allchurch, of Evesham, whose 19-year-old son Simon suffers with cerebral palsey said: “I can’t put it into words what that would mean to us.

“Today has been good but Acorns full stop has been absolutely brilliant.

“I can’t fault them because they have given us so much help.”

Acorns’ chief executive David Strudley said he was “thrilled” the players had visited the hopsices in Worcester, Walsall and Selly Oak, and urged people to donate what they could to the campaign.

“We must raise £1 million this Christmas so that we can begin piloting Acorns at Home in the new year,” he said.

“This new service will extend the work Acorns already does in its hospices and allow Acorns to reach an additional 300 life-limited children and their families.

“These families are being stretched beyond their capabilities and we must provide support to them now.”

To make a donation call 0800 138 9957.

For further information, visit acornsathome.com.